Probiotics are live microorganisms that confer beneficial health effects to animals once ingested. Surviving the gastrointestinal fluids is crucial for probiotics in order to reach the right locations in the intestine, where they are most effective. The probiotic Calsporin® contains spores of the specifically selected strain Bacillus subtilis C-3102 that stimulates a stable and strong core microflora. By shaping and maintaining a powerful barrier against pathogens, the Calsporin® strain ensures optimal digestion.
Stability
Spore-forming probiotics have the major advantage of being extremely stable. In addition to its resistance to the low pH of gastrointestinal fluids, Bacillus subtilis C-3102 is also thermostable. Extensive studies have been conducted for the numerous EU registrations of Calsporin®. All results indicate that harsh processing, such as pelletizing, cannot harm Bacillus subtilis C-3102 spores. While resisting temperatures as high as 90°C, the spores are more sensitive to very rapid changes in pressure, which in turn limits their applicability in extrusion processes. In order to overcome this limitation, alternative inclusion strategies have been developed together with key industrial partners. For instance, studies in digest application have been successfully conducted. The findings underscore that no matter the form in which the product is stored, Calsporin® spores have proven to be highly stable and viable for more than one year in all kinds of feed and petfood. Thus, the probiotic ensures full activity once ingested by the dog.